UPDATE: The westbound 401 between Cobourg and Port Hope has reopened to traffic following two separate collisions, one involving a reported jackknifed tractor trailer and at least two vehicles and another involving multiple vehicles.
The 401 westbound at Odessa is now back open after a lengthy closure.
Further east Thursday afternoon, one child has been transported to hospital with serious injuries in two separate collisions that have severely backed up the east 401 between Lansdowne and Mallorytown.
The multi-vehicle collisions have resulted in a significant backlog of vehicles. OPP personnel from Leeds, Frontenac and Grenville, alongside emergency services are on scene assisting those involved.
Motorists stuck in the backlog are asked to remain in their vehicles and follow directions on scene. Once the collisions are addressed, officers will work to clear the remaining traffic.
The closure is expected to be lengthy.
ORIGINAL STORY
Crashes have been piling up over the course of the morning with multiple slowdowns on the local stretch of the 401 in Quinte.
There was a two-vehicle crash on the eastbound 401 just past Wooler Road around 7:30 am. Two people had to be extricated though there were no major injuries. One lane was closed in that area for the investigation, but traffic was getting by slowly. They hoped to have it cleared by 9 am.
The first serious crash was posted online around 7 am.
| Collision on HWY 401 Westbound at Palace Rd (IC 582)/CR 5, Napanee. Left shoulder and left lane closed. | |
| Start Time | 2026-01-15 6:56 AM |
|---|---|
| Last Updated | 2026-01-15 6:56 AM |
There was also a crash on the westbound 401 approaching palace road, which closed one lane around 7 am. There were many major slowdowns on the 401 between Trenton and napanee alone.
Delays are being reported at isolated areas of all major highways.
Later in the morning, just before 11, there was a collision on the westbound Highway 401 at County Road 28/Ontario Street in Port Hope that closed the left shoulder and two left lanes.
A message from a member of the public to Inquinte.ca stated the westbound 401 is shut down at Cobourg courtesy of two separate accidents.
One reportedly has two or three vehicles and a couple tractor trailers. The other one involves multiple vehicles.
OPP communications posted about a full closure on the west 401 at County Road 6 in Odessa due to a collision involving a transport truck and a vehicle.
No injuries reported in that crash.
OPP NOTICE FOR EAST REGION – If you don’t HAVE to go anywhere today, it would be a good idea to stay off the roads. While there has not been a lot of accumulation, there has been a lot of drifting snow building up on some sections of most roads. OPP officers have responded to nearly a dozen collisions across eastern Ontario since 5am. Thankfully most have been minor, with vehicles landing in a ditch. No serious injuries have been reported. If you must be on the roads, slow down, leave extra following distance, keep headlights TURNED on and keep your eyes on the road ahead. Never pass a working snow plow. They are working to make the road safer for you. The snow is expected to continue all day, meaning things will not be getting better.
